 got the win despite giving up two runs and Alex Colome got the final three outs for his 11th save.Ian Kennedy (0-2) took the loss.Moncada's two-run homer in the first gave Chicago a 2-0 lead. After Kansas City got a run back in the second on an RBI single by Soler, the White Sox broke things open with five runs in the wild bottom half of the inning.After Sparkman was ejected, Yolmer Sanchez greeted Jorge Lopez with an RBI single, scoring Eloy Jimenez from second base. Charlie Tilson then made it 4-1 with an RBI groundout. Three batters later, Abreu's three-run smash made it 7-1.Lopez, though, settled down after that and pitched four scoreless innings.Kansas City put together a four-run sixth against a tiring Lopez to pull within 7-5. Soler hit a two-run homer, Nicky Lopez had an RBI triple (snapping an 0 for 20 stretch) and Whit Merrifield added an RBI single.The Royals then tied the game with two runs in the eighth off reliever Kelvin Herrera. Martin Maldonado walked with one out and was replaced by pinch runner Terrance Gore. Billy Hamilton followed with an infield single and then the runners advanced to second and third with a double steal.Lopez singled to drive in both runners.JUST A BIT OUTSIDEMary Ruich wasn't expecting much from her ceremonial first pitch. Certainly not national attention. ''I knew it wasn't going to be good, but I thought I'd be close,'' she said Wednesday. ''It was scary.'' Ruich threw one of the most wayward ceremonial first pitches ever when she plunked a team photographer standing close by, between the mound and first base line, prior to Tuesday's game.The ball went right off Darren Georgia's lens, nowhere near the plate. Ruich, a server in one of the Guaranteed Rate Field restaurants, earned the honor as a White Sox employee of the homestand, the team's version of employee of the month.''When I saw the camera get bobbled,'' Ruich said, ''I was like, `Oh my God! Maybe nobody saw that. I'll just run away.'' 'TRAINER'S ROOMWhite Sox: SS Anderson wasn't in the lineup the previous four games because of right wrist soreness.UP NEXTRoyals: RHP Jakob Junis (3-5, 5.58 ERA) pitches Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series at Texas. LHP Mike Minor (5-3, 2.55) goes for the Rangers.White Sox: LHP Manny Banuelos (2-4, 7.71 ERA) makes his seventh start of the season Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series with Cleveland. RHP Carlos Carrasco (4-5, 4.60) pitches for the Indians.---More MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/-Sports)
White Sox, Royals hope weather holds out for series finaleFLMChicago White Sox groundskeeper Roger Bossard shared at least one thing in common with manager Rick Renteria on Tuesday.Sitting in the home dugout at Guaranteed Rate Field, Bossard held court with a group of assembled media eager to ask him questions.Storms and extra field prep have been the norm during this week's series between the White Sox and visiting Kansas City Royals, although both may finally be in the rear view as the teams prepare to close their three-game set on Wednesday night."I've got to tell you, this is my 53rd year here, and you know what, I've seen a lot of bad weather," Bossard said. "Nothing like this year. It's really been amazing." The White Sox are seeking a series sweep after taking both games of a de facto doubleheader on Tuesday, both one-run victories. The first game was the continuation of Monday's suspended game, which was postponed with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning after a pair of lengthy rain delays totaling nearly four hours."You know what? Rough evening," Bossard grinned. "It certainly wasn't Disco Demolition." More rain fell before the suspended game resumed on Tuesday, prompting Bossard and his 24-man crew to again use the tarp to cover the infield.Additional precipitation may have saturated the field, but it hardly sullied the spirits of the man nicknamed "The Sodfather." "The field took it well; I was really happy with the drainage system," Bossard said. "But once again, that's the reason why we've got a tarp." Royals manager Ned Yost announced after the Tuesday nightcap that right-hander Glenn Sparkman would start the Wednesday game. Sparkman (1-1, 2.92 ERA) will be making his 10th appearance and second start of 2019. He has struck out 17 batters in 24 2/3 innings.In his only previous start this season, on May 1, Sparkman defeated the Tampa Bay Rays behind seven shutout innings, scattering three hits and one walk while striking out six. Sparkman last pitched on Saturday against the New York Yankees, allowing one run on two hits in 3 1/3 innings of relief."I did not have my command at all," said Sparkman, who is 0-0 with a 1.80 ERA in three career appearances against the White Sox, all in 2018. "I was fighting mechanics the three innings pretty much. I was trying to get in some type of a groove. I just kept battling, going at guys and working with what I had tonight." Righty Reynaldo Lopez (3-5, 6.03 ERA) is set to get the call for the White Sox following a rough outing in his most recent start. Pitching on the road against the Minnesota Twins on Friday, Lopez allowed eight runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings while yielding three home runs.Lopez has surrendered 14 homers in 59 2/3 innings this season but still shown resilience. He boasts quality starts in three of his five May starts and will be making his third appearance against the Royals in 2019.After losing to the Royals on the road in the first series of the regular season, Lopez bounced back on April 16 in Chicago, earning the victory -- his first of the season -- with six innings of one-run ball. He is 3-2 with a 4.73 ERA in nine career starts against the Royals.--Field Level Media
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